The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-29
Extract from Governs letter to N. Y. Herald. ]
Secret of Germans Influence.

There is one feature of this situa-
ton that has excited a great deal of
wonder elsewhere, but is perfectly
understood by those acquainted with
our local politics and Mr.. Germans
relation to it. 1t is this: Why should
Mr.. German, when he has from Mr..
Cleveland the disposition of the pat
ronage. not refrain from bringing dis.
grace upon Mr., Cleveland by the
systematic appointment of men of
caiminal character and record? Why
could he not have men appointed at
least outwardly decent ?
The explanation is simple to any
one acquainted with the situation
here. No other appointments, would
do Mr.. German any good.
Should Mr.. Cleveland refuse to APP
point men of criminal antecedents,
Mr.. German would lose control of the
only agency by which he holds pow
er-to wit, the criminal class.
fit should become known in this
city that German could not secure
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, city and feder-
al-for men ofcriminal character, the
hope that sustains the criminal class
here, the cord that binds it together
for election purposes, would be gone;
the election frauds could no longer be
consummated, and the whole Cor
mon system in this State would fall
to pieces and Mr.. German with it.
He sits in the Senate, not by the
vote of the Democratic party, but
through the fine work of Higgins,
Morris Thomas, Rasin, ct al. He
owes a debt to them; they have a
hold upon him. He must get ap-
pointments for such as they or they
will be of no use to him.
1t is hardly worth while to answer
any more of the statements of Mr..
| German.
The reason that the Independent
Democrats in this campaign support
the Republican candidates is this
From 1875 to 1886. inclusive, when
ever there has been a contested cleo
ton in this city, the regular Demo-
cratic candidates for state and city
Offices have been in most instances
counted in by fraud. The Democrat
ic vote has become less and less. the
frauds greater each time. The regu-
lar Democratic party, under the con-
troll of the present organization, rec
ognizing each year the increasing
number voting against it, has prom
ised since 1876 to reform our election
laws, but its legislatures have regu-
larly failed to fulfil their promise.
In 1876, at convention of Demo-
Gratis from all parts of the State, the
party" promised a new election
law, and appointed a committee OF
honorable gentlemen to draft one. 1t
was drafted, but rejected by the leg
islature through Germans influence.
In every Democratic platform since
that date promise of election reform
has been made, and the pledge has
been regularly violated.
In 1882 law was presented to the
Democratic legislature, based upon
the New York Election law, but it
was rejected. In 1856, after two grand
iuries of this city had called attention
to the defective character of our cleo
ton laws and the frauds perpetrated
under them, the Reform League cleo
ton laws, based upon that of New
York and Illinois, was presented and
advocated, but the committee never
even reported it. This legislature
was under Germans control.
We independents have become tir-
ed of promises, and we believe that
the best way of securing fair elections
in this city is to beat the pseudo
Democratic organization. The Re-
publican candidates are men of the
highest character. and the Republican
party in control of the best elements
of that organization in this city and
State.
The Republican platform is def
mite; is in clean-cut English APP
proves the Reform League Election
law, an annual registration and civil
service reform.
The Indedendent Democrats there
fore feel that they are doing the city
and State service by endeavoring
to rid it forever of Gormanism. which
in this city and State now means the
banding together of the criminal
classes for mutual advantage in po-
litical matters.
We have been SURPRISED to find so